Daily Readings & Thought for March 25th. “THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU”

In Numbers we read that the establishment of Israel as an organised nation is now complete. It had been just over a year since they escaped from Egypt; the 10 commandments and other laws had been given, the tabernacle had been made and erected and is now ready for use. The priesthood. led by Aaron, had been appointed,Our chapter (6) today concludes in a very significant way. “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”This was a very special blessing, for they were about to celebrate the Passover of their deliverance from Egypt for a second time and then move forward toward the promised land – the land promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Read the words of this blessing again, encouraging words to stimulate positive thought that the LORD is with you. It is a most interesting phrase – to: “make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you”. David makes reference to this no less than 7 times in his Psalms. Moses, we know, “knew God face to face” [Deut.34 v.10], a relationship specially created, the outcome of 40 days in the presence of God on the mountain top.Our heavenly Father seeks a personal relationship with us through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” [John 14 v.9] Jesus represented the Father who himself “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no-one has ever seen or can see.” [1 Tim. 6 v.16].We normally sing these words in seeking the LORD’s blessing when someone takes on the name of Christ through baptism. They have intense meaning to illustrate the wonder of the relationship God expects us to have with him when we become a brother or sister of His Son. We must remember them throughout our lives, being conscious of the way so many of the people of Israel failed to be conscious of them when they faced challenges in the wilderness. May the Lord bless and keep all of us who travel in faith through the increasingly barren wilderness of life today.